Both chambers of Congress have approved legislation that would fund the nation’s largest abstinence education program — the same one President Obama tried to stop.
“Despite the president’s desire to see abstinence programs completely eliminated, we are pleased that the Senate has voted to continue this important program,” said National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) President Valerie Huber. “We are especially pleased that bipartisan support has made the continuation of this valuable program possible.”
Obama proposed a budget earlier this month that would have eliminated funding for all such programs — also called sexual risk avoidance (SRA) programs.
H.R. 4302, passed by the Senate on Monday, extends funding through fiscal year 2015. The same bill also extends a Sexual Risk Reduction effort.
Research shows such programs are more effective, according to NAEA. Students are more likely to delay sex than their peers — if they are sexually active — and are more likely to discontinue sex or have fewer partners.
And parents, overall, favor the abstinence education approach, Huber explained.
“They recognize that it is much more than a ‘Just Say No’ approach,” she said. “SRA abstinence education reaches youth where they live and addresses issues they are concerned about. Parents don’t want their children to have a false sense of security from those who equate ‘safe sex’ with a condom or who make teen sex seem inevitable and risk-free. Parents want the best health outcomes for their children, so it is no surprise that they favor sexual risk avoidance programs.”
On the other hand, comprehensive sex education programs teach “several harmful and disturbing themes,” according to NAEA. Some of these include:
- Overstated, exaggerated claims of condom usage rates and effectiveness
- Inaccurate suggestions that “abstinence” and “safe” sex are equally safe and healthy choices
- Presentation of sexually explicit and other inappropriate content
NAEA thanked Senate leadership for passing the bill, especially Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, “for leading the efforts to continue this proven and holistic risk avoidance approach.”
“We are especially grateful for political leaders,” Huber said, “who are able to transcend differences to do what is truly in the best interest of our nation’s youth.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
(Editor’s Note: The reauthorization of the abstinence program was included in the Senate passage of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014.)
Learn more about H.R. 4302.
Read “The National Abstinence Education Foundation Releases Abstinence Works.”
Read “What so-called ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education Teaches to America’s Youth.”
